Internal candidate No. 1: Jeff Baker -- As a part-time player, Baker has crushed left-handed pitchers this year. In just 53 at-bats against lefties, he was hitting .393 with a eight home runs at the start of the road trip Friday. Here’s the problem: At the same time, he was hitting only .231 vs. right-handers and had just two extra-base hits in 43 at-bats. The Rangers will have a lot more games against right-handed pitching than lefties. At best, he’s probably a solution in a platoon situation.

Nelson Cruz accepted his punishment Monday, stripping the Rangers of their leader in home runs and RBIs for the remainder of the regular season.

Cruz, in the midst of an All-Star year, was the biggest name among the dozen players who accepted 50-game suspensions from Major League Baseball for receiving performance-enhancing drugs from Biogenesis of America, a defunct anti-aging clinic in Miami. It was the largest mass suspension in baseball since February 1986, when 13 players were penalized in fallout from the Pittsburgh cocaine trials.

The star outfielder said in a statement that he made “an error in judgment” in seeking help from Biogenesis to recover strength lost because of a gastrointestinal infection. Cruz said he dropped 40 pounds from November 2011 to January 2012 because of helicobacter pylori, a microaerophilic bacterium that attacks the stomach’s protective mucous lining.

Cruz would be eligible to return to play if the Rangers make the playoffs.

Milwaukee third baseman Ryan Braun previously agreed to a 65-game suspension for receiving PEDs from Biogenesis. New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who made his season debut shortly after the penalties were issued, said he will appeal his suspension, which would run through the 2014 season.

“As a whole, we’re disappointed that we haven’t as an industry moved past this,” said Ryan, a Hall of Fame pitcher. “A lot of effort has been put into this, a lot of education; MLB has made it a priority. Yes, it’s disappointing that we haven’t moved further down the road.

“We’re disappointed that he [Cruz] violated the drug policy and that he now has to deal with that.”

Cruz can become a free agent after the season. Daniels said the suspension does not rule out a return by Cruz but said the club would take a wait-and-see approach.

Selig said “we pursued this matter because it was not only the right thing to do, but the only thing to do.”

During a meeting with the Baseball Writers of America at the All-Star Game, Selig said numerous players had come to him this season, asking for harsh penalties for their peers found to be using PEDs.

Cruz is not known to have ever tested positive for a banned substance. MLB based the suspension of Cruz and the others on a “non-analytical positive.” That can be a paper trail or direct testimony from a participant.

‘No excuse’

Biogenesis owner Anthony Bosch cooperated with MLB’s investigation. According to documents published by the Miami New Times in January, Cruz spent $4,000 on purchases from the clinic. Notes from Bosch’s ledger indicated he was planning to meet with Cruz in May 2012 to supply him with more “products.”

“I accept full responsibility for that error,” Cruz said in the statement. “I should have handled the situation differently, and my illness was no excuse.

“I am thankful for the unwavering support of my family, friends and teammates during this difficult time. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Rangers’ organization, my teammates and the great Rangers fans.”

Cruz will lose $3.02 million in salary. He can use club facilities during the suspension but cannot be in uniform when ballpark gates open. Daniels said the club will wait a few days “to let the dust settle” before talking with Cruz to determine a course of action.

In his statement, Cruz said he is “grateful for the opportunity to return to the team for the playoffs.” Daniels said the club is “open-minded” to bringing back Cruz for postseason play but wants to gauge player reaction before making a decision.

A year ago, the San Francisco Giants took negative player reaction into account when they decided not to bring back outfielder Melky Cabrera for the playoffs following his 50-game suspension for PED use.

“We want to see how this plays out, most importantly with his teammates,” Daniels said of Cruz.

On Sunday night, Cruz informed the club of his decision to not appeal the suspension. Daniels had several discussions with Cruz leading up to that in an attempt to find out which way he was leaning but did not attempt to influence him.

Daniels denied that Cruz put the Rangers in a bind by waiting so long to make a decision. The Rangers, aware Cruz could accept the suspension, looked for a right-handed hitter leading up to the trade deadline last Wednesday but found nothing. American League Central Division leader Detroit traded for shortstop Jose Iglesias before shortstop Jhonny Peralta accepted a Biogenesis suspension.

Tough to replace

It would be difficult to add a hitter of Cruz’s stature at any point of a season, Daniels said. At the time of the suspension, Cruz was tied for fourth in the majors for homers with 27 and tied for eighth in RBIs with 76.

“We’re disappointed that he violated the policy,” Daniels said. “We knew this was out there. There was not a lot we could do about it. I’m not sure if he had made up his mind any sooner that it would have had much impact.”

The Rangers’ immediate response to the loss of Cruz will be more playing time for outfielder Craig Gentry, whose game is built on speed.

The club also promoted two outfielders from Triple-A Round Rock: prospect Engel Beltre and Joey Butler, who has never appeared in the majors. Butler, 27, has built a reputation for hitting minor-league left-handers.

Daniels acknowledged the lineup, inconsistent all season, will be different without Cruz. Creativity will be important, Daniels said.

“We’re not going to replace Nelson’s production with one player, whether internally or through a trade,” Daniels said. “It’s incumbent on [manager] Ron Washington and his staff to get the best out of our whole roster. It’s going to be a challenge for us, but this club has never shied away from a challenge before.

“We believe in this team. We have every expectation of continuing to win and making it to the playoffs in spite of this situation.”

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